Chapter I Sections 1 to 5 Introduction

Chapter II Sections 6 to 52 General Explanations

Chapter III Sections 53 to 75 Of Punishments
General Exceptions
Sections 76 to
Chapter IV
106 of the Right of Private Defence (Sections 96 to 106)

Sections 107 to
Chapter V Of Abetment
120
Sections 120A to
Chapter VA Criminal Conspiracy
120B
Sections 121 to
Chapter VI Of Offences against the State
130
Sections 131 to
Chapter VII Of Offences relating to the Army, Navy and Air Force
140
Chapter Sections 141 to
Of Offences against the Public Tranquillity
VIII 160
Sections 161 to
Chapter IX Of Offences by or relating to Public Servants
171
Chapter Sections 171A to
Of Offences Relating to Elections
IXA 171I
Sections 172 to
Chapter X Of Contempts of Lawful Authority of Public Servants
190
Sections 191 to
Chapter XI Of False Evidence and Offences against Public Justice
229
Sections 230 to
Chapter XII Of Offences relating to coin and Government Stamps
263
Chapter Sections 264 to
Of Offences relating to Weight and Measures
XIII 267
Chapter Sections 268 to
Of Offences affecting the Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency and Morals.
XIV 294
Sections 295 to
Chapter XV Of Offences relating to Religion
298
Of Offences affecting the Human Body.

 Of Offences Affecting Life including murder, culpable homicide (Sections 299 to 311)

 Of the Causing of Miscarriage, of Injuries to Unborn Children, of the Exposure of Infants, and of the
Chapter Sections 299 to Concealment of Births (Sections 312 to 318)
XVI 377  Of Hurt (Sections 319 to 338)
 Of Wrongful Restraint and Wrongful Confinement (Sections 339 to 348)
 Of Criminal Force and Assault (Sections 349 to 358)
 Of Kidnapping, Abduction, Slavery and Forced Labour (Sections 359 to 374)
 Sexual Offences including rape and Sodomy (Sections 375 to 377)
Of Offences Against Property

 Of Theft (Sections 378 to 382)

 Of Extortion (Sections 383 to 389)
 Of Robbery and Dacoity (Sections 390 to 402)
Chapter Sections 378 to  Of Criminal Misappropriation of Property (Sections 403 to 404)
XVII 462  Of Criminal Breach of Trust (Sections 405 to 409)
 Of the Receiving of Stolen Property (Sections 410 to 414)
 Of Cheating (Section 415 to 420)
 Of Fraudulent Deeds and Disposition of Property (Sections 421 to 424)
 Of Mischief (Sections 425 to 440)
 Of Criminal Trespass (Sections 441 to 462)
Offences relating to Documents and Property Marks
Chapter Section 463 to  Offences relating to Documents (Section 463 to 477-A)
XVIII 489 -E
 Offences relating to Property and Other Marks (Sections 478 to 489)
 Offences relating to Currency Notes and Bank Notes (Sections 489A to 489E)
Chapter Sections 490 to
Of the Criminal Breach of Contracts of Service
XIX 492
Sections 493 to
Chapter XX Of Offences related to marriage
498
Chapter
Sections 498A Of Cruelty by Husband or Relatives of Husband
XXA
Chapter Sections 499 to
Of Defamation
XXI 502
Chapter Sections 503 to
Of Criminal intimidation, Insult and Annoyance
XXII 510
Chapter
Section 511 Of Attempts to Commit Offences
XXIII
A detailed list of all IPC laws which include above is here. [8]
Whoever, voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with
imprisonment of life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be
liable to fine.
Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section. [9]

 Section 377 The Delhi High Court on 2 July 2009 gave a liberal interpretation to this section and laid down that this section
can not be used to punish an act of consensual sexual intercourse between two same sex individuals. [10]
 On 11 December 2013, Supreme Court of India over-ruled the judgment given by Delhi High court in 2009 and clarified that
"Section 377, which holds same-sex relations unnatural, does not suffer from unconstitutionality". The Bench said: "We hold
that Section 377 does not suffer from ... unconstitutionality and the declaration made by the Division Bench of the High
Court is legally unsustainable." It, however, said: "Notwithstanding this verdict, the competent legislature shall be free to
consider the desirability and propriety of deleting Section 377 from the statute book or amend it as per the suggestion made
by Attorney-General G.E. Vahanvati."[11]
 On 8 January 2018, the Supreme Court agreed to reconsider its 2013 decision and after much deliberation agreed to
decriminalise the parts of Section 377 that criminalised same sex relations on 6 September 2018. [12] The judgement of
Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation is overruled. [13]
Attempt to Commit Suicide - Section 309[edit]
The Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code deals with suicide attempts, whereby attempting to commit suicide is punishable with
an imprisonment up to one year. Considering long-standing demand and recommendations of the Law Commission of India,
which has repeatedly endorsed the repeal of this section, the Government of India in December 2014 decided to decriminalise
attempts to commit suicide by dropping Section 309 of the IPC from the statute book. In February 2015, the Legislative
Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice was asked by the Government to prepare a draft Amendment Bill in this regard.
[14]

In an August 2015 ruling, the Rajasthan High Court made the Jain practice of undertaking voluntary death by fasting at the end
of a person's life, known as Santhara, punishable under sections 306 and 309 of the IPC. This led to some controversy, with
some sections of the Jain community urging the Prime Minister to move the Supreme Court against the order.[15][16] On 31
August 2015, the Supreme Court admitted the petition by Akhil Bharat Varshiya Digambar Jain Parishad and granted leave. It
stayed the decision of the High Court and lifted the ban on the practice.
In 2017 the new Mental Healthcare Act of India was signed. Section 115(1) of the act effectively decriminalised suicide, saying
"anyone who attempts suicide shall be presumed, unless proved otherwise, to have severe stress and shall not be tried and
punished under the said Code."
Adultery - Section 497[edit]
The Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code has been criticised on the one hand for allegedly treating woman as the private
property of her husband, and on the other hand for giving women complete protection against punishment for adultery. [17][18] This
section was unanimously struck down on 27 September 2018 by a five judge bench of the Supreme Court in case of Joseph
Shine v. Union of India as being unconstitutional and demeaning to the dignity of women. Adultery continues to be a ground for
seeking divorce in a Civil Court, but is no longer a criminal offence in India.
Death penalty[edit]
Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (war against the Government of India), 132 (mutiny), 194 (false evidence to procure
conviction for a capital offence), 302, 303 (murder)(303/ has been declared unconstitutional in the case of Mittu singh vs state
of punjab), 305 (abetting suicide), 364A (kidnapping for ransom), 396 (banditry(Dacoity) with murder), 376A (rape), 376AB
(Rape on woman under 12 years of age), 376DB (Gang rape on woman under twelve years of age), 376E (repeat offender)
have death penalty as punishment. There is ongoing debate for abolishing capital punishment. [19] Still major activists are
debating on this topic.

Criminal justice reforms[edit]

In 2003, the Malimath Committee submitted its report recommending several far-reaching penal reforms including separation of
investigation and prosecution (similar to the CPS in the UK) to streamline criminal justice system.[20] The essence of the report
was a perceived need for shift from an adversarial to an inquisitorial criminal justice system, based on the Continental
European systems.

Amendments[edit]
The Code has been amended several times.[21][22]

S.
Short title of amending legislation No. Year
No.

1 The Repealing Act, 1870 14 1870

2 The Indian Penal Code Amendment Act, 1870 27 1870

3 The Indian Penal Code Amendment Act, 1872 19 1872

4 The Indian Oaths Act, 1873 10 1873

5 The Indian Penal Code Amendment Act, 1882 8 1882

6 The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1882 10 1882

7 The Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1886 10 1886

 S.
Short title of amending legislation No. Year
No.

8 The Indian Marine Act, 1887 14 1887

9 The Metal Tokens Act, 1889 1 1889

10 The Indian Merchandise Marks Act, 1889 4 1889

11 The Cantonments Act, 1889 13 1889

12 The Indian Railways Act, 1890 9 1890

13 The Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1891 10 1891

14 The Amending Act, 1891 12 1891

15 The Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1894 3 1894

16 The Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1895 3 1895

 S.
Short title of amending legislation No. Year
No.

17 The Indian Penal Code Amendment Act, 1896 6 1896

18 The Indian Penal Code Amendment Act, 1898 4 1898

19 The Currency-Notes Forgery Act, 1899 12 1899

20 The Indian Penal Code Amendment Act, 1910 3 1910

21 The Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1913 8 1913

22 The Indian Elections Offences and Inquiries Act, 1920 39 1920

23 The Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1921 16 1921

24 The Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1923 20 1923

25 The Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1924 5 1924

 S.
Short title of amending legislation No. Year
No.

26 The Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1924 18 1924

27 The Workmen's Breach of Contract (Repealing) Act, 1925 3 1925

29 The Obscene Publications Act, 1925 8 1925

29 The Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1925 29 1925

30 The Repealing and Amending Act, 1927 10 1927

31 The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1927 25 1927

32 The Repealing and Amending Act, 1930 8 1930

33 The Indian Air Force Act, 1932 14 1932

34 The Amending Act, 1934 35 1934

 S.
Short title of amending legislation No. Year
No.

35 The Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937 — 1937

36 The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1939 22 1939

37 The Offences on Ships and Aircraft Act, 1940 4 1940

38 The Indian Merchandise Marks (Amendment) Act, 1941 2 1941

39 The Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1942 8 1942

40 The Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1943 6 1943

41 The Indian Independence (Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinances) Order, 1948 — 1948

42 The Criminal Law (Removal of Racial Discriminations) Act, 1949 17 1949

43 The Indian Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1949 42 1949
 S.
Short title of amending legislation No. Year
No.

44 The Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950 — 1950

45 The Repealing and Amending Act, 1950 35 1950

46 The Part B States (Laws) Act, 1951 3 1951

47 The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1952 46 1952

48 The Repealing and Amending Act, 1952 48 1952

49 The Repealing and Amending Act, 1953 42 1953

50 The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1955 26 1955

51 The Adaptation of Laws (No.2) Order, 1956 — 1956

52 The Repealing and Amending Act, 1957 36 1957

 S.
Short title of amending legislation No. Year
No.

53 The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1958 2 1958

54 The Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 43 1958

55 The Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1959 52 1959

56 The Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1961 41 1961

57 The Anti-Corruption Laws (Amendment) Act, 1964 40 1964

58 The Criminal and Election Laws Amendment Act, 1969 35 1969

59 The Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1969 36 1969

60 The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1972 31 1972

61 The Employees' Provident Funds and Family Pension Fund (Amendment) Act, 1973 40 1973
 S.
Short title of amending legislation No. Year
No.

62 The Employees' State Insurance (Amendment) Act, 1975 38 1975

63 The Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975 40 1975

64 The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1983 43 1983

65 The Criminal Law (Second Amendment) Act, 1983 46 1983

66 The Dowry Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 1986 43 1986

67 The Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Act, 1988 33 1988

68 The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 49 1988

69 The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1993 42 1993

70 The Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1995 24 1995

 S.
Short title of amending legislation No. Year
No.

71 The Information Technology Act, 2000 21 2000

72 The Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2003 24 2003

73 The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2005 25 2005

74 The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2005 2 2006

75 The Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 10 2009

76 The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 13 2013

77 The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 22 2018

78 The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 34 2019

Acclaim[edit]
The Code is universally acknowledged as a cogently drafted code, ahead of its time. It has substantially survived for over 150
years in several jurisdictions without major amendments. Nicholas Phillips, Justice of Supreme Court of United Kingdom
applauded the efficacy and relevance of IPC while commemorating 150 years of IPC. [23] Modern crimes involving technology
unheard of during Macaulay's time fit easily within the Code [citation needed] mainly because of the broadness of the Code's drafting.

Cultural references[edit]
Some references to specific sections (called dafā/dafa'a in Hindi-Urdu, ‫ دفعہ‬or दफ़ा/दफ़आ) of the IPC have entered popular
speech in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. For instance, con men are referred to as 420s (chaar-sau-bees in Hindi-Urdu)
after Section 420 which covers cheating.[24] Similarly, specific reference to section 302 ("tazīrāt-e-Hind dafā tīn-sau-do ke tehet
sazā-e-maut", "punishment of death under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code"), which covers the death penalty, have
become part of common knowledge in the region due to repeated mentions of it in Bollywood movies and regional pulp
literature.[25][26] Dafa 302 was also the name of a Bollywood movie released in 1975. [27] Similarly, Shree 420 was the name of a
1955 Bollywood movie starring Raj Kapoor.[28] and Chachi 420 was a Bollywood movie released in 1997 starring Kamal Haasan.
[29]

See also[edit]
 Courts
 Judiciary of India
 Indian Evidence Act
 Government of India
 Law enforcement in India
 Civil Procedure Code, 1908
 Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
 Administrative divisions of India
 Category:Sections of the Indian Penal Code

References[edit]
1. ^ Universal's Guide to Judicial Service Examination. Universal Law Publishing. p. 2. ISBN 978-93-5035-029-4.
2. ^ Lal Kalla, Krishan (1985). The Literary Heritage of Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir: Mittal Publications. p. 75. Retrieved 19
September 2014.
3. ^ "Law Commission of India - Early Beginnings". Law Commission of India. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
4. ^ "Historical Introduction to IPC (PDF)" (PDF).
5. ^ Jammu and Kashmir reorganised into UTs of JK and Ladakh, security under centre's ambit, state constitution Ranbir Penal Code
abolished. Firstpost.
6. ^ "Preamble of the IPC".
7. ^ B.M.Gandhi (2006). Indian Panel Code (2013 ed.). EBC. pp. 1–832. ISBN 978-81-7012-892-2.
8. ^ "India penal code" (PDF). India code - a repository of state and central acts. Ministry of law and justice. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
9. ^ B.M.Gandhi (2006). Indian Penal Code. EBC. pp. 1–796. ISBN 978-81-7012-892-2.
10. ^ "Delhi High Court strikes down Section 377 of IPC". The Hindu. 3 July 2009. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
11. ^ Venkatesan, J. (11 December 2013). "Supreme Court sets aside Delhi HC verdict decriminalising gay sex". The
Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
12. ^ "SC decriminalises Section 377: A timeline of the case". The Times of India. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
13. ^ "Supreme Court's decision on Section 377: Separate decision of 5 Judges [Read Judgement]". www.lawji.in. Archived from the
original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
14. ^ "Attempt to Suicide". Press Information Bureau. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
15. ^ "Rajasthan HC says Santhara illegal, Jain saints want PM Modi to move SC". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
16. ^ "Rajasthan HC bans starvation ritual 'Santhara', says fasting unto death not essential tenet of Jainism". IBN Live. CNN-IBN. 10
August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
17. ^ "Wife is private property, so no trespassing". The Times of india. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
18. ^ "Adultery law biased against men, says Supreme Court". The Times of India. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
19. ^ Abrams, Corinne (3 September 2015). "The Reasons India's Law Commission Says the Death Penalty Should Be Scrapped".
20. ^ "IPC Reform Committee recommends separation of investigation from prosecution powers (pdf)" (PDF). Retrieved 23 May 2012.
21. ^ Parliament of India. "The Indian Penal Code" (PDF). childlineindia.org.in. Retrieved 7 June 2015.   This article incorporates text
from this source, which is in the public domain.
22. ^ The Indian Penal Code, 1860. Current Publications. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
23. ^ "IPC's endurance lauded". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
24. ^ Henry Scholberg (1992), The return of the Raj: a novel, NorthStar Publications, 1992, ... People were saying, 'Twenty plus Four
equals Char Sau Bees.' Char Sou Bees is 420 which is the number of the law that has to do with counterfeiting ...
25. ^ Star Plus, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge – Jokes Book, Popular Prakashan, ISBN 978-81-7991-343-7, ... Tazeerat-e-
hind, dafa 302 ke tahat, mujrim ko maut ki saza sunai jaati hai ...
26. ^ Alok Tomar; Monisha Shah; Jonathan Lynn (2001), Ji Mantriji: The diaries of Shri Suryaprakash Singh, Penguin Books in
association with BBC Worldwide, 2001, ISBN 978-0-14-302767-6, ... we'd have the death penalty back tomorrow. Dafa 302,
taaziraat-e-Hind ... to be hung by the neck until death ...
27. ^ D. P. Mishra (1 September 2006), Great masters of Indian cinema: the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winnersGreat Masters of Indian
Cinema Series, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, 2006, ISBN 978-81-230-
1361-9, ... Badti Ka Naam Dadhi ( 1975), Chhoti Si Baat ( 1975), Dafa 302 ( 1 975), Chori Mera Kaam ( 1975), Ek Mahal Ho
Sapnon Ka (1975) ...
28. ^ "Shree 420" – via www.imdb.com.
 29. ^ Haasan, Kamal; Puri, Amrish; Puri, Om; Tabu (19 December 1997), Chachi 420, retrieved 3 April 2017

Further reading[edit]
 C.K.Takwani (2014). Indian Penal Code. Eastern Book Company.
 Murlidhar Chaturvedi (2011). Bhartiya Dand Sanhita,1860. EBC. ISBN 978-93-5028-140-6.
 Surender Malik; Sudeep Malik (2015). Supreme Court on Penal Code. EBC. ISBN 978-93-5145-218-8.

External links[edit]
 The Indian Penal Code, 1860 - India Code, Government of India
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